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    Capitol Lunch

    4.1 (224 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, Burgers, Fast Food
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Capitol Lunch Photos

    CAPITOL LUNCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Capitol Lunch

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    Avery's Soda (Weiner Water)
    Abby R.

    An iconic staple of the Connecticut hot dog scene, and after trying this place out for the first time, I can see why. Stepping in, the restaurant vibe is incredibly retro. And the prices are great too! I believe they've gone up a bit since previous reviews--the famous dog is now $3.99. Still quite the steal for a hotdog with a heaping serving of onions, mustard, and "famous sauce," which I quickly came to realize was ground beef and some spices. The sauce is a bit drier than a typical chili, but it's certainly a fun addition to a hot dog. I certainly enjoyed it. Plus, they serve Avery's sodas here! I got the "Weiner Water" flavor (orange and lemon), it felt appropriate given all the hot dogs. Service was immediate, even during a lunch rush. I walked up to the counter, ordered, and my hotdog was in front of me in seconds. It was great! The employees and I chatted about the silly soda name and everyone was incredibly kind and conversational. I had a great experience here and will be back again!

    Dog with everything delicious
    Munchy R.

    Hotdogs here are amazing been coming here since I was a child. chilli on the dogs or on a cheeseburger very tasty. staff here are awesome will recommend to everyone.

    Famous dog.  Natural casing with mustard, onions,and sauce.

    We went today and got the famous dog and BLT sandwich. Both were excellent. The hot dog has a great snap and the meat sauce is always consistently great. We come up from Waterbury and it's well worth it.

    Menu
    Nicole F.

    It seems I'm never in the area, so when I am I always have to stop. This place still hasn't changed since the last time I was here a bout 3 years ago. Their "famous hot dog" with the sauce is amazing, and frankly I haven't had comparable dog. Not to mention the martin Russell hotdogs have that infamous "crunch" with each bite. Food was quick and hot. I am not a French fry fan, but the fries were thin, perfectly salted, and best of all hot and fresh. Since I don't come often, I forced myself to eat two hotdogs! Looking forward to the next time I'm back. Tip: if you're paying with card, the prices are a bit more than the menu

    Kathleen S.

    Best hotdogs in Connecticut hands down! I have been eating hotdogs here since I was a kid. This restaurant has been in business as long as I can remember and I understand why!

    One of my closes uncle highly recommend me this place and now that I'm living on the area so do I.
    Manny S.

    Original recipe on their hotdogs, burgers and fries, service was nice and friendly, and the ambiance will compared with a retro dinner style.

    Dan R.

    "Things will get better soon, I gotta hunch The three martini lunch Wasting another afternoon, punching a hole in my life" (Graham Parker) Want an inexpensive and satisfying lunch? Well, it's hard to do better than we did at Capitol Lunch yesterday. Definitely a No Frills kind of place, but the value, taste, and overall experience of our lunch visit yesterday was fantastic. No, you won't find any truffle fries or goat cheese here, but what you will find is an unpretentious menu with hot dogs between $2.49 and $2.99, Fries for $2.69 and rings for $3.39. If you want to be a big spender you can get a freshly made quarter pound burger for $5.39. Hot Dogs are king here, and its been that way for 90 years. My hot dog was fantastic, a good sized hot dog with ketchup, onions, and their famous chili-like meat sauce on a pillowy soft fresh as can be roll. For $2.99 it was fantastic. We split an order of their $2.69 fries that was big enough to easily share. Don't be put off by Capitol's "Hole in the Wall" appearance. We enjoyed everything about our visit -the ordering line moved fast as lightning, and the counter folks were friendly and helpful. But best of all, we loved our food and the fantastic prices.

    I just drove 2 hours from Boston to Capitol Lunch with my daughter and wife today. I learned of it when my Dad took me when I was a kid. He learned of it when his Dad took him back in the 50's. This was the place my grandfather went to post WW2 as a Staff Sergeant in the 10th Mountain Div, and after working a shift at Stanley Works. Got some chili to-go and bought some dogs from Rosol's down the road. Back in Boston now with my daughter and we're making Cappy's w/ everything tonight. Thanks for the 4 generations of memories! Oh...and "always ask for Avery's"

    Two dogs with everything, plus fries, rings, and a drink
    Kathy W.

    When in Idaho, you gotta get a potato. And when in New Britain, it's all about the hot dogs. Capitol Lunch is a classic, in business since 1929. Yes, they also offer burgers, but most people - and there are a LOT of them - come for the hot dogs. At $8.99, the combo (2 dogs, fries or onion rings, and a fountain drink) is a pretty good deal. The steady crowds are no match for the staff's efficiency. They've got this down to a science. You're through the line quickly and enjoying your meal in no time. Park in the New Brite lot across the street so you don't have to negotiate Main Street parking.

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    5 years ago

    New Britain Staple with mystery meat sauce is it corn flakes we will never know but I grew up on it.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Love this place!! Whenever i make my way in NB I make myself come and get me 2 dogs with the sauce. Delicious

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    4 years ago

    Just a cool unassuming place. Serve quality hot dogs made right in New Britain. Friendly staff and reasonable prices, what's not to love.

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    5 years ago

    I have been going to Capital Lunch since I was a kid. Even though there are nee owners I still love the chili and and hot dogs!

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Looks can be deceiving! After over 59 years they must be doing something right aside from amazing, friendly customer service...

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    8 years ago

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    Arthur V.

    Thanks you!

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    Arthur V.

    Thank you very much!

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    Page 3 of 6

    Ask the Community - Capitol Lunch

    What meat are the hot dogs?

    Martin Rosol hot dogs. A combination of pork and beef.

    I realize this is a ridiculous question. Any chance the sauce is gluten free? Gluten comes from wheat (regular flour), rye, and barley and is typically an ingredient in soy…

    I’m sorry the sauce is not gluten free.

    What year did it originally open?

    1929

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    My husband isn't exactly a hot dog guy. So I got a sideways look when I suggested that we try this…read moreplace out for lunch....but after our meal, he said that he'd never had a specialty hot dog before and really enjoyed this! How could you not like this place?! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and an awesome menu. We tried the reuben dog, taco dog and guilty pleasure dog with the Cajun fries. Dogs are messy but fun.... loved the taco dog! Cajun fries were too salty but appreciate that they are made in house! (Wish they had sweet potato fries with a fun dipping sauce though!) Can't wait to go back and try more creations!

    I have been a super fan of Riley's since shortly after they opened. They make one of the absolute…read morebest veggie burgers, something that often gets overlooked due to all of the well deserved acclaim for their burgers and hot dogs. I went back recently, after having not been for a while, and it was as good as ever. They have a delicious quinoa and veggie based patty, and I have a signature way I usually like to order it: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, Swiss, brown mustard, & their own hot relish. All of the ingredients are super fresh, and they execute everything they do extremely well, crucial with burgers, hot dogs and fries. The fries are hand cut, and I always go with the Cajun fries, accompanied by their addictive chipotle aioli. It actually has a kick, but also a strong depth of flavor. The Cajun seasoning on the fries is always just right. I have never had a bad experience there. Everyone is always super friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They don't rush to make sure they have your burger/topping combination exactly right when you customize your own. It's actually a very nice space inside, too. I like eating there even though I have probably gotten mine to go slightly more often. Lately I prefer eating my burger & fries fresh there. Anytime someone asks for an in town food recommendation, my family & I say Riley's. It's a must try for foodies period, but especially if you're a burger lover. And again, they have a top tier veggie burger. It's a very special place.

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    4.3(67 reviews)
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    My wife and I recently visited Prime Burger and had a great experience. I ordered a burger with…read moreblue cheese and sweet potato fries, while my wife had the Butcher Burger with regular fries. The food was delicious, and the burgers were packed with flavor. The sweet potato fries were very crispy and delicious. I would get the same meal again as would my wife. What really stood out was the outstanding service. Throughout our meal, several staff members checked in to make sure everything was good and asked if we needed anything. The attention and hospitality made us feel very welcome. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend Prime Burger. In fact, I've already been back and will continue to return.

    Right away, the service stood out. Friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating without hovering…read more They knew the menu and let us enjoy the experience. We started with the chicken empanadas. Crispy on the outside, packed with well-seasoned chicken inside. Good spice, not overpowering. Came with a salsa and a ketchup-mayo style sauce, both worked, but the salsa had a little more life to it. Before that, warm ciabatta hit the table with a house-made dipping sauce. Oil-based with garlic, blue cheese, and a few other layers going on. The blue cheese gave it a subtle kick without taking over. Nice way to start. Now to the burger, the Luger Burger. I'm assuming it's a nod to the classic steakhouse, but didn't get full confirmation. The sauce is made in-house: slightly sweet, a little acidic (I picked up balsamic), smooth texture. It's a good sauce, it just needed a bigger voice on this burger. The burger itself is large. And I mean large. Menu said thick-cut bacon... that wasn't the case. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable. Now I'm going to get a little critical, because this is where it matters. The burger needed more salt. There's a lot of beef here, and it can absolutely handle it. Even something as simple as salting the tomato would've helped bring things together. If the bacon had actually been thick-cut, that alone might've bridged the gap. This was a very beef-forward burger, to the point where the supporting flavors barely showed up. The patty felt a bit too tightly packed, which gave it a denser bite and let the beef dominate the whole experience. A looser grind or lighter hand forming it would've made it more tender and allowed everything else to come through. It also needed more acid. The Luger sauce was applied lightly, so either lean into it more or bring in something else, a pickle, a sharper onion, something to cut through the richness and balance it out. The bun was soft, nicely toasted, and held up well, which isn't easy with a burger this size. Fries were hand-cut, properly salted, and exactly what you want. No complaints there. Overall, this is a great spot. Clean, comfortable, nicely decorated. Staff was excellent. Food was good, with flashes of being really good. With a few small tweaks, mainly balance and execution on the burger, this could easily jump to the next level.

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    Mostly good burgers and dogs, great fries, nice but small location…read more Came here on the way to an event, so we opted for some lunch beforehand. This place was well reviewed, so we decided to make this the spot this time around. Ordering was done up front, but there were tables to sit at. Missus ordered while I took photos, and the food came out relatively quickly. Took pics and dug in. Sweet potato fries were the highlight. Hand cut, fried and seasoned. With ranch, they were really good. The burger and hot god were good in terms of quality and quantity. The condiments were a little overpowering though, ended up taking over a lot of the dish and really muddled the meat. The meat itself was lightly seasoned, relying on the condiments to bring the flavor. Not bad, but all elements should bring their own identity and add to a meal. The burger felt absent, and although flavorful was lacking that extra bit of salt or fat to make it truly shine. It's not bad at all, just lacking. Everything else was good, the price easily reasonable for the quality. It was just missing those finishing touches to be truly great

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